Android 5.0 Lollipop ROM + Root for Nexus 5!

For this week’s Nexus 5 ROM of the Week, check out Android 5.0 Lollipop ROM with root!

This is not the final version of Android 5.0 (as it is still a preview) but after trying it for couple days I can say the final product is going to be nearly identical. While you wait for the official version of Android 5.0 Lollipop in few weeks with the upcoming Nexus 6, you can certainly run it on your Nexus 5 as daily driver.

What’s new with Android 5.0 Lollipop?

First, the material design has been applied everywhere throughout the Android UI along with light and dark material theme for the keyboard (which I really like). Android 5.0 definitely refreshes Android like you are using a brand, new OS.

Second, Android 5.0 is speedy beast! With ART enabled as default, you can expect super-smooth and fast UI along with performance improvements throughout every app you use. The difference is definitely noticeable.

Third, there’s many new features (I have yet to discover all of them) including multi-user account support, detailed Google settings, App behavior control (such as blocking notifications of prioritizing important ones), improved printing functionality, and much much more.

Android 5.0 also brings new security enhancements by hardening the OS, which is a good thing for most but it does interfere with rooted apps. Currently, you can root your Nexus 5 easily by flashing SuperSU but most rooted apps will not work correctly. (e.g. Titanium Backup) This should be fixed though once Android 5.0 goes official but for this specific preview version, you may want to know ahead that you will not be able to run all of your favorite rooted apps. (some rooted apps work fine though)

Overall, I do really like Android 5.0 Lollipop’s UI, speed, and performance. If you haven’t tried it yet, definitely give it a go this week(end) and do let me know what you think!

To install, reboot into recovery, make backup ROM, wipe data/factory reset, install ROM, install SuperSU and reboot. (If for some reason you end up in a bootloop or get force-closed keyboard error on boot, reboot into CWM recovery, go to Mounts & Storage->format /system. For TWRP, go to Wipe->Advanced Wipe->Wipe /system.)

Nexus 5 Reference
You will need a rooted Nexus 5 to install all ROM/kernels.NOTE: THE AUTHOR OF THIS SITE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU MESS UP YOUR PHONE, PLEASE READ INSTRUCTIONS TWICE BEFORE TRYING IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME TO ROOTING AND CUSTOM ROMS!

11 thoughts on “Android 5.0 Lollipop ROM + Root for Nexus 5!”

Hi, I have installed this rom, but the home button and notifications are not working properly, home button doesn’t do anything when pressed, and notifications don’t scroll down to show the buttons.. any idea to fix it?

I had the same problem before without even rooting and just flashing the lollipop factory image. Turns out it might have been a problem with coming from the developer preview. Try giving it a factory wipe and try again. that worked for me.